[Verse 1]
Showboat comin' up the river
See her lanterns flicker in the gentle breeze
I can hear the crickets singin' in the evenin'
Old Dixie Lily movin' past the cypress trees
My little boat she rocks easy
I've been catchin' the catfish in the creek all day
Oh, and I've never seen ladies like those on the big boats
Must be fancy breedin' lets you live that way

[Chorus]
Dixie Lily, chuggin' like a grand old lady
Paddles hittin' home in the noonday sun
Ploughin' through the water with your whistles blowin'
Down from Louisiana on the Vicksburg run

[Verse 2]
Papa says that I'm a dreamer
Says them mosquitos bit me one too many times
Oh, but I never get lonesome livin' on the river
Watchin' old Lily leave the world behind

[Chorus]
Dixie Lily, chuggin' like a grand old lady
Paddles hittin' home in the noonday sun
Ploughin' through the water with your whistles blowin'
Down from Louisiana on the Vicksburg run
[Saxophone Solo]

[Chorus]
Oh, Dixie Lily, chuggin' like a grand old lady
Paddles hittin' home in the noonday sun
Ploughin' through the water with your whistles blowin'
Down from Louisiana on the Vicksburg run
Oh, down from Louisiana on the Vicksburg run